The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT
Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.
Isaiah 59:1-3 NLT
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
9 ways the tongue can cause distance with you and God
1.
!
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV
and
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2. Stirring up
_!
A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
Proverbs 6:12-15 NIV
Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees[a] or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
Titus 3:9-11 NLT
3.
!
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
Proverbs 20:19 NLT
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 16:28 NLT
For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
2 Corinthians 12:20 NLT
4.
!
5.
!
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
Proverbs 11:3 NLT
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
James 5:16 NLT
6.
!
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
Romans 3:13 NIV
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
Matthew 26:74 NIV
As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, so let it enter his body like water, and like oil into his bones.
Psalm 109:17-18 NKJV
7. Misuse of
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You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 NKJV
8.
!
It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 25:24 NKJV
As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Proverbs 26:21 NKJV
9.
!
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12 NLT
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:29-31 ESV